The Evolution of a copywriter

Born and raised in Kolkata, I developed a love for writing from my schooldays at Don Bosco Park Circus and continued to nurture that liking right through my college life at St. Xavier’s. But I had never thought about making a career out of it. As it happened, I was never a very serious student and so Science was out of the question and I opted for the second alternative-Commerce and did my B.Com Hon’s. Along with it I also was ranked 2nd in Costing (Inter). That’s when I got bored! I went in for a walk-in-interview and got a job as Management Trainee with Gujarat Ambuja, Kolkata and was placed in their In-house Corporate Communications Department. That was my first brush with advertising and I was lucky to work under a great writer –Joyabrata Chatterjee. After seeing some of my writings, he was the one who encouraged me to make a career in copywriting. That’s when I went for my first ever Copy Test with National Advertising. The number of people who came for the test took me aback. Most were elder to me and I was sure that I didn’t stand a chance. Well, I was in for a pleasant surprise when next week I got a call from the agency saying that I had been selected. That’s how I landed my first job as a Copywriter, and have since then never looked back. During this time I had visions of stardom (like any other young boy). I gave auditions first with Times FM and was selected as an RJ and did some shows with them. Later on I again attended an audition when ETV was launching their Bengali channel in Kolkata. Well, I was chosen and then for the next 6 months I had a rollicking time anchoring a road show for them on Saturdays and Sundays and working from Monday to Friday as a copywriter. (At this time I was working with Radiant Adv., a leading Kolkata agency.) Then came the time when the agency wanted to promote me to the post of Creative Director, Copy and needed my full time. So, I had to make a choice. TV Anchor or Copywriter? I opted for the second one. Glamour took a backseat to my love for writing. Since then I have moved out of Kolkata and am working presently as Creative Director (Copy) for Crayons Advertising, Jaipur. It’s been an exciting journey till now, with some awards also received down the line. But I have never written for awards, rather I have written for clients. And, there is no greater incentive for me to write than “writing for the sake of writing”!Over the years, I have fallen in love with the entire creative process: brainstorming ideas, shaping concepts, delivering results. What can I say; I have always loved a challenge. My goal is tostretch my creative scope and to seize bigger and better opportunities.